Bless my little 3 year-old's heart. She is active and eager and very strong-willed. She is wonderful, but sometimes she just doesn't sleep through the night or tends to overreact to simple things. We've been working with her on behavior and monitoring what she eats to see what affects her. I started researching natural health supplements for young children that help with meeting nutritional needs and providing natural remedies to overactive minds and bodies. We had been giving her a daily supplement that I thought was natural and helpful, and then found out that one of the ingredients also happened to be a carcinogen. Ingredients are really important to me and I was disappointed that I didn't notice that before. I was back to square one, but more focused on label reading. My husband and I have used Natural Vitality Calm magnesium supplement, an anti-stress drink that we have found helps our overall health. I discovered that they offered a child's formula, Natural Vitality Natural Kids … [Read more...]

Things just keep getting better and better in the world of Conscious Box! One the most popular subscription boxes out there, and one of my favorites, Conscious Box delivers to your door boxes filled to the brim with a variety of full-sized and sample-sized products from companies focused on green, healthy living, sustainability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. This month marks the launch of the completely new ConsciousBox.com, a full-service site where you can create a log-in, manage your subscription, refer friends, and earn points for rating the samples in your box. You can then use those points to snag some great discounts on your favorite products – right from ConsciousBox.com! Also, as you earn more points you'll level up to different characters, starting at "Seedling!
Still curious about Conscious Box? You can check out some of my past reviews here, or visit Conscious Box on their shiny new website, or through Facebook and Twitter. Not only will you be … [Read more...]

I am consistently surprised at the products I am introduced to through Conscious Box. I consider myself a very educated and aware consumer with a broad shopping spectrum, but it never ceases to amaze me what awesome things are still out there just waiting to be found! And that's why I love Conscious Box!
For those unaware, Conscious Box is one of the best product discovery boxes available, and its main focus is on sustainability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. For $12 a month, plus $7.95 shipping, you'll receive a box filled with a variety of full-sized and sample-sized products. The January Conscious Box theme was "This Year Belongs to you" and was all about making you the best you possible, through goals and self-improvement, as well as embracing a more simplified lifestyle.
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It was heavy and filled to the brim, as always, I don't think there was a single waste of space in this month's Conscious Box! Those are … [Read more...]

One of my favorite things to gift this holiday season is subscription boxes. Of course, one of the most popular boxes is Conscious Box and I'm excited to be able to give one away right here on my blog! They have come out to say that if you thought last month's was awesome (it was their anniversary box!) you'll be pleased to know they've outdone themselves again with December's Conscious Box!
Conscious Box is a perfect gift for anyone on your holiday gift lists. Whether it's a multi-month subscription or gifting the whole box, this is going to be a fantastic box to win! I wish I could enter! This is going to be a quick turn-around giveaway so they can get the box shipped out as soon as possible! The box contents are a total surprise, but below is an example of what has come in past Conscious Boxes. Also, you can check out my review of their fantastic July box here.
To enter to win a December Conscious Box, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below, and if you … [Read more...]

November marks the one-year anniversary of Conscious Box and they want everyone to get in on the celebration! They have put together their very vest Conscious Box yet in honor of the occasion and have offered to give away one of these special boxes to one lucky reader right here! Conscious Box is a perfect gift for anyone on your holiday gift lists. Whether it's a multi-month subscription or gifting the whole box, this is going to be a fantastic box to win! I wish I could enter!
This is going to be a quick turn-around giveaway so they can get the box shipped out as soon as possible! The box contents are a total surprise, but below is an example of what has come in past Conscious Boxes. Also, you can check out my review of their fantastic July box here.
To enter to win this November 1-year Anniversary Conscious Box, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below, and if you have any questions, let me know! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Product provided … [Read more...]

I've been pretty darn anxious for my Ecocentric Mom to arrive this month, and once again, it was a great package! Ecocentric Mom is a product discovery subscription service for $17 a month that gives you three different box options: Mom-to-be, Baby Box, or Mom Box. I get the "Mom" box, and this is what I got to open up...
There were only two items I was already familiar with in this month's box - the EcoStore All Purpose Cleaner and the Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops (well, also the EcoMom discount). I'm really looking forward to try all the others, and I'm really glad an EcoStore product was included because I would love for more people to know about such a great company! Here's a breakdown of items I received:
EcoStore USA All Purpose Cleaner ($3.95 for this full-sized bottle)
Beauty From Flowers Day Cream
Swipes Lovin Wipes - I'm actually ridiculously excited to discover this product. Is that TMI? Maybe. But what a great idea!
YumEarth Organic … [Read more...]

I love being a member of Influenster! What’s unique about Influenster is that it is not a paid subscription program (the boxes are sent to you at no cost), rather, it’s a community of “trendsetters” who like to try out, share, and spread the word about products. Members qualify for boxes based on demographics and statistics as well as unlocking “badges” and promoting the products you try through reviews and social media. I've had the "green" and "mom" badge for a while now and filled out a pre-survery qualification, which all led me to participate in this box: The Naturals VoxBox - full of natural, environmentally friendly, and organic products for home and family! Here's a peek inside:
The Original Dish Drying Mat ($4.99) - Though not new to me, this is one of my favorite products for home ever and I will happily be sharing this with a friend since I already have a few. This environmentally friendly product helps when drying dishes on the counter - saving energy and water … [Read more...]

I have really been looking forward to my second Ecocentric Mom box because last month's was pretty cool and with this being their second month, I'm just wondering what I can come to expect from them. Ecocentric Mom is a product discovery subscription service for $17 a month that gives you three different box options: Mom-to-be, Baby Box, or Mom Box. I get the Mom Box and was even more impressed with August's box than I was with last month's box! Here's a peek inside my delivery:
Ecover Natural Dishwashing Liquid (2 deluxe sample bottles of Grapefruit & Green Tea scent, 3.38 oz each) - I use Ecover Automatic Dish Tabs and love them, so I'm excited to try another product from their line. These dishwashing liquid samples are so generous in size, they smell great, and I'm looking forward to putting them to use.
Enfusia Fizz & Foam Bath Bomb (Lavender, 4 oz., $7) - I love bath bombs! But it's been a long time since I've used one because of all the "bad" stuff they contain. … [Read more...]

Did you see how amazing my Conscious Box was in July? Well, the fine folks at Conscious Box have released a brand new option for subscribers: a 100% Vegan Conscious Box. This first box is curated by Brendan Brazier, former pro Ironman triathlete, bestselling author of Thrive, and formulator of Vega. With the new Vegan Conscious Box, you'll get a variety of the best Vegan products every month which will be anything from snacks to soaps—you’re sure to find new favorites, plus, you'll be introduced to ethical and purpose-driven businesses of all sizes. The Vegan Conscious Box is the same price as the regular Conscious Box, $19.95 per month (which includes shipping).
Are you as excited as I am for this new subsctiption option? I'm pleased to be able to offer one lucky reader a Vegan Conscious Box of their very own! To enter to win, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below, and if you have any questions, let me know! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Product … [Read more...]

White Apricot is a wonderful website that offers the best in eco and socially conscious fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. With several years of service under their belt, White Apricot has taken their expertise on those topics and brought them to consumers in a very unique and fun monthly product discovery service, Green Grab Bag. Green Grab Bag is a great way to discover natural health and beauty products. It's $15 a month and, like it's name, comes in a lovely green (both in color and environmental impact) gift bag! I felt extra special when it showed up at my door, like I had just gone shopping in a cute boutique downtown. I have heard so many great things about Green Grab Bag, and I'm pleased to say that my expectations were completely exceeded! Here's a peek at what was inside July's Green Grab Bag:
EO Certified Organic Deodorant Spray (full sized product, 4 ounces, $6) - Regular readers of this blog know that I love my organic deodorants! This is my first … [Read more...]

Well, it was bound to happen. I was totally bummed out by this box! I had such high hopes, and I know Citrus Lane can't please everybody, they have thousands of customers, I'm sure, but it's tough because a few small changes could have made me love the box. The theme this month was Bon Voyage and the items received were to help families on the go, whether it be around town or on a vacation getaway. Here's a peek inside my box:
WeeKnit Zoo Animal Finger Puppets ($7) - A cute little elephant, lion, and monkey, they're handmade by a family-run business in Utah. Other subscribers got a Green Toys Racecar, which would have been a much better fit for my Abby. I don't think we'll be using the finger puppets.
Baggu Standard Bag ($9) - I love reusable bags, especially cute ones. This one was not cute. It had alpacas on it, which might be fun and kitschy for some people, but not for me. Other subscribers got a cute yellow polka-dot bag.
California Baby Travel Set - This is a fun … [Read more...]

One of the best product discovery boxes available, Conscious Box focuses on sustainability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. For $12 a month, plus $7 shipping, you'll receive a box full of a variety of full-sized and sample-sized products. The July Conscious Box theme was "The Simple Joys of July" and was all about embracing the little joys in life and staying healthy on-the-go. This box definitely lived up to its theme!
It was heavy and filled to the brim, I don't think there was a single waste of space in this month's Conscious Box! It was difficult to even get a decent picture with everything in the frame! As far as the box contents go, for me there was only one or two products I was already familiar with, so I was blown away with all the great companies and products I could discover. Here's a peek inside:
All Natural Face Eyeshadow in Peach Ice
Aura Cacia full-sized bottle of essential oil in Sweet Orange ($4.15) - Orange just happens to be … [Read more...]

Finding natural, organic skin care that works is a tricky fete. There are a lot of choices, and as I've been doing my research in effort to use healthier products on my body, I came upon Hylunia, which I must say carries some very unique and appealing products in their lineup. Their philosophy is two-fold: 1. Focus on Correction and Efficacy, and, 2. Focus on Prevention. This is quite a revelation in a skin care product because I always feel as though when purchasing products I can't "have it all" with just one - I feel like I have to play "favorites" and choose between my two main skin concerns (acne-prone, oily skin and anti-aging). That said, I want it all in just one - why can't a girl have the best of everything in a simple skin care routine? It's not too much to ask and Hylunia is living proof.
When I said that Hylunia offered unique products, I was speaking specifically of three of the handful I have tried over the last few weeks. Let me start by saying how in love I am with … [Read more...]

As a parent, I try to make informed choices for my children and find ways to enrich their lives. In doing those things my hope is that they will be healthy, happy, and make valuable contributions to society. One of the most useful ways to stay informed is by using Healthy Child Healthy World as a resource for information and ideas. I've said a lot about Healthy Child Healthy World over the last few months, but it just goes to show how important and effective I think their organization is. Just as they help others, we can help them, and it's easier than you think! One of Healthy Child Healthy World's partners is Patagonia, a shoe, clothing, and outdoor gear company with a conscience, and Patagonia has teamed up with OnlineShoes.com to offer a $10 donation to Healthy Child Healthy World with every Patagonia shoe purchase on their site!
Patagonia offers shoes for both men and women at OnlineShoes.com and one of the unique aspects of their company is that they believe (and practice) … [Read more...]

I've found that the best way to try and see if you like a new product - especially one that is more costly - is to try a free sample of it. That's one of the reasons I really like subscription box services. Abe's Market has a new program now where you can select any three product samples that are currently available on their Discover Natural store and get them shipped to you for only $2. That's a pretty inexpensive way to try before you buy!
Ordering the samples for $2 is also a great way to take baby steps into a natural living lifestyle. They've got product samples ranging from food to pet to health and bath & body, so you're bound to find three you'd like to try at any given time. I just recently made a full-sized order from Abe's Market when they had their free shipping promo last week and was so pleased with my shopping experience. I was particularly looking for organic or all-natural body lotion and they had plenty to choose from. I highly recommend Abe's Market as an … [Read more...]

I just wanted to give you a heads' up that this year's Healthy Child Healthy World Party Kit is a-mazing! I signed up back in January to host a Healthy Child Healthy World party and with my $25 tax deductible donation I was sent this super-super box filled with all the things I need to share with my party guests. I was completely blown away by what was provided. Here's a peek inside:
As you can see there's a large number of product samples and a really great lot of full-sized products from companies like Tropricin, Nordic Naturals, EcoStore USA, Bona, and Dolphin Organics, plus a lot of snacks from Clif, Luna, and Plum/Revolution Foods! There are way too many products, brochures, and coupons to name all of them and keep my sanity, but one of my favorite additions is the Nordic Naturals bags of goodies and the Green Planet Parties serving set. I'm excited to share with my friends the Nordic Naturals samples because I'm really passionate about children's vitamins - but the majority of … [Read more...]

This family of mine loves a good snack and I always try to make sure we make the right snacking choices - always choose the whole grain option, try to avoid artificial flavors and colors, and we are especially adamant about making sure there's no aspartame or high fructose corn syrup in our choices. Lucky for us, Surf Sweets is a line of organic and natural candy and can be found in stores like Whole Foods or other natural, specialty stores.
We took a road trip last week and Surf Sweets were great to have on-hand! We snacked on the Organic Jelly Beans, the All-Natural Sour Berry Bears, and All-Natural Gummy Bears. The Gummy Bears were so good, I think Michael and I at most of them! Abigail scarfed down the Organic Jelly Beans, and I enjoyed the All-Natural Sour Berry Bears - I think they tasted so much like the "traditional" sour gummies on the market, but I was much more comfortable snacking on these because they are 90% organic!
All of Surf Sweets are made with organic cane … [Read more...]

Regular readers of this blog know that I am a huge proponent of natural and organic deodorants. More readily available and affordable than ever, Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal is a perfect example of how easy and versatile natural deodorant is. Now sold in Walmart, Naturally Fresh Deodorant products are a cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, non-staining deodorant that provides up to 24-hours of hypoallergenic protection against body and foot odor. Unlike most conventional antiperspirants/deodorants, Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal contains no harmful aluminum or parabens and can be found in several naturally-scented or fragrance-free varieties as well as different forms of application - such as the Spray Mist or the Roll-On.
Since I'm already a natural deodorant user, I came into trying out Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal Roll-On and Spray Mist with my body adapted to life without antiperspirant and other unneeded chemicals. If you're switching to a natural deodorant from a … [Read more...]

I had been waiting on pins and needles to get my very first Eco-Emi box, and was especially looking forward to it because it is their one-year anniversary box. Eco-Emi is a monthly box subscription, but what sets it apart from others is that the items you receive are eco-friendly, organic, or vegan. It's $15 a month and so popular that as of right now there's a waiting list to join!
So what's inside and what do I think?
Crystal Essence Towelettes - I'm a fan of Crystal Deodorant in its roll-on form, so I kinda knew I would probably love these towelettes...and I do! They work great! I've used two already and am going to save the other two for traveling. These came in Lavender & White Tea scent and I really liked the natural scent.
Revolution Organics Freedom Gloss - This was one of the full-sized products in the box and it's so awesome! I didn't know about this beauty company before and am a big fan now. It's packaged in a fun pink and black tube and retails for $26! I … [Read more...]